Dozens dead as big quake hits Guatemala

A strong earthquake off the coast of Guatemala has killed at least 48 people and trapped others under rubble, crushing homes and cars, destroying roads and forcing evacuations as far away as Mexico City.

Most of the dead were buried under debris in San Marcos state, a mountainous region near the Mexican border.

It was the strongest earthquake to hit the Central American nation since 1976, when a 7.5 magnitude quake killed more than 20,000 people.

President Otto Perez, who confirmed the death toll after returning to the capital Guatemala City from a lightning trip to San Marcos, said that as many as 23 people were unaccounted for, while 153 people were being housed in emergency shelters.

"It's very sad to meet people here who are waiting to find their families who are still buried," Mr Perez said.

"It's really a tragedy and we will do all we can to help the families that are suffering."

Television footage showed collapsed buildings and vehicles crushed under rocks and stuck in large cracks in highways.

In San Cristobal Cucho, in San Marcos state, all but one of an 11-member family died, buried under rubble, volunteer fireman Ovidio Fuentes told local radio. Only the 17-year-old son survived.

Relief effort

Local Red Cross chief Carlos Enrique Alvarado said 75 homes were destroyed in the city of San Marcos alone and authorities said damage to the prison forced them to transfer 101 inmates to another jail.

Mr Perez said Spain and Venezuela had offered help.

Authorities distributed 16,000 emergency rations and mobilised more than 2,000 soldiers to help with the rescue effort. The energy ministry said 73,000 people were left without electricity.

In Guatemala City, 161 kilometres from the quake's epicentre, the streets were filled with office workers forced to evacuate buildings, although most soon returned to work.

"It was really big. I felt quite nauseous," said Vanessa Castillo, 32, a secretary who was evacuated from her 10th floor office in the capital.

The epicentre was 26 miles 42 kilometres below the surface, according to the US Geological Survey.

The quake was felt in El Salvador and more than 1,223 kilometres away in Mexico City, where some people also fled offices and homes.

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre said a small tsunami was registered on Guatemala's coast, although there were no reports that it caused any damage.